Chapter 2 Heroes Gathered The Princess Looked At Me For Less Than A Tenth Of A Second
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The discussion we heard in the reception room was exactly what I’d expected, or perhaps even what I had feared.
It seemed this world was home to many different races. While this specific kingdom was populated only by humans, the neighboring countries were formed by non-human races, and they were currently engaged in a full-scale war. The neighboring ruler, they said, was feared by all surrounding nations and was referred to as the Demon Lord. Furthermore, the Demon Lord’s army apparently possessed tremendous fighting strength, leaving this kingdom in a disadvantageous position.
That was why the royal family had poured enormous resources into summoning Heroes from another world. Legend held that the summoned Heroes would each be granted the strength of a thousand warriors.
”So, the Princess wants us to use that power to defeat the Demon Lord, is that it?”
”Yes…”
The most handsome of the four summoned men and women spoke up. Even in this situation, his voice was filled with unflinching confidence.
I was standing beside the sofa where the four of them were lined up, sitting down. Although the sofa itself was a four-seater, the arrangement had settled naturally into this strange formation. You’d think they could’ve prepared another chair for a guest, but for some reason, one never appeared for me.
”Ugh, nope. We’re, like, totally passing on that. I wanna go home, tteka!”
It was the girl with the incredibly wavy, dyed blonde hair who brazenly stated her opinion, completely ignoring the atmosphere. Judging by her manner of speaking, she was a classic Gyaru. Blonde Gyaru, I named her internally.
”Well, I’d hate to just ignore people in trouble, though…”
The man with the most impressive physique among the four spoke next. Seriously, he was huge. His hair was cut short, and if he told you he was on the American Football team, ten out of ten people would believe him instantly. The Brawn, I decided.
”Hey! I get that this isn’t Japan, but is there a way for us to go back!?”
The short-haired woman—the Energetic Girl—demanded, her voice louder than anyone else’s. She spoke so clearly, her energy practically bursting out of her words.
In response to her urgent question, the Princess dropped her gaze to the floor with an apologetic expression.
”…Due to the restrictions of the summoning, you, the Heroes, cannot return to your original world until certain conditions have been fulfilled.”
”What—!”
”Are you serious? Like, totally unreal, n-desu-kedo!”
What did I tell you? Not only was it exactly what I’d expected, but it turned out we couldn’t go back so easily. I was about to open my mouth, thinking I should ask the next important question as the oldest one here… but the handsome guy beat me to it.
”Calm down, Sari. She said there is a way to go home. So, Princess. What exactly is the condition required for our return?”
He smoothly asked the very question I’d been meaning to. At this point, I was relegated to mere spectator mode.
”When the Heroes defeat an enemy, the summoning circle is charged with magic power proportional to the defeated entity’s strength. Once a sufficient amount is gathered, the gate to your original world will open.”
”I see, then…”
”Oh, I get it! So, defeating this Demon Lord would be the shortest path to filling up the summoning circle, wouldn’t it?” the Energetic Girl declared, clearly hitting on the main point. The Princess gave a firm nod.
”You are absolutely correct. The Demon Lord possesses a powerful reserve of magic. If you, the Heroes, were able to defeat him, that would undoubtedly be enough to fully charge the summoning circle.”
Yeah, that’s a load of BS. What the Princess was saying was far too convenient for her side of the story. Plus, she had absolutely no proof for any of it. Yet, the four of them seemed to believe her every word. It made me wonder if I was the only cynical jerk here, and maybe no one was actually lying. I’d gotten older, and somewhere along the way, I’d lost the ability to simply believe peopl. When did I become this kind of adult? I couldn’t look directly at the four bright-eyed youths.
”Please, I beg of you, my great Heroes! Please, bring light back to our homeland, which is now shrouded in despair!”
This plea came from a stunning beauty rarely seen even in Japan, and her eyes were pooling with tears. As the Princess bowed her head so low, the handsome Heroes exchanged glances. Naturally, no one looked over at me.
”We haven’t fully made up our minds yet, but…”
”Well, if killing the Demon Lord means we can go back, right?”
”Indeed. And I can’t just ignore people who are suffering.” The Brawn declared with an unwavering gaze.
”But wait! None of us have ever fought before!” the Energetic Girl worried.
However, the Princess shook her head, assuring them there was nothing to worry about.
”All those who are called forth by the summoning magic array are endowed with the power of a Hero. While traversing worlds, you should have obtained abilities guided by fate.”
”Huh?”
”Abilities guided by fate!?” The Handsome-kun repeated with intrigue.
”Yes. Let us confirm those abilities right now.”
At the Princess’s signal, a magnificent mirror was carried into the oversized reception room.
”This very mirror is the Magic Mirror, capable of reflecting the abilities of the Heroes summoned by the magic array. Now, Heroes, please step forward and reflect your figures.”
”Oh, cool! Let’s see!”
The Energetic Girl immediately stood up and faced the mirror. Slowly, faint writing began to emerge. Mysteriously, it was written perfectly in Japanese.
”Let’s see… Class: Magic Staff Hero…?”
”Oh my! That is most likely a Class specializing in sorcery abilities!” the Princess exclaimed.
Sorcery! I’d suspected as much when I heard the word ‘magic power,’ but to think this world actually had sorcerers! I felt a small, strange tingle of excitement.
”Mine says… Great Tree Hero, it seems,” The Brawn announced.
”Mine is… Healing Hero? What’s that?” the Blonde Gyaru deadpanned.
”Both of those are absolutely wonderful Classes! You are truly the Heroes guided by fate!”
Both The Brawn and the Blonde Gyaru seemed to possess amazing abilities in the Princess’s eyes. Then, finally, the handsome guy stepped up to the mirror.
”Hmm… Holy Sword Hero?”
”…! T-the Holy Sword…! Could it be… the legendary Hero, the only one capable of wielding the Holy Sword!?”
It seemed the handsome guy had become an absolutely incredible Hero. Not just the Princess, but the surrounding attendants were stirring with excitement.
”Eh. Sounds like a big deal, I guess.” the Blonde Gyaru mused.
”Well, I don’t have any idea what my abilities actually are yet, but…” The Handsome-kun trailed off.
”No, no, this is truly magnificent! You all are surely the Heroes summoned to defeat the Demon Lord and save our kingdom!”
Class names are pretty cool, I gotta admit. I couldn’t even guess what the Great Tree Hero’s abilities were, though.
I felt bad for spoiling the excitement, but I raised my hand just a little.
”Um… Can I try, too…?”
”Ah… Ahem. Yes, of course. Please, Ug— you also, stand before the mirror.” The Princess caught herself just in time.
She was absolutely going to call me an ugly guy just now, wasn’t she? Well, I’m an adult, so I won’t pick a fight over it! Besides, my face is average, anyway! Most Japanese guys look like this! Sure, I’m not as perfectly sculpted as you pretty people!
Right now, I was more interested in my own Class. I stepped in front of the mirror with a sense of anticipation. The four others were also curious, watching me.
The characters slowly appeared on the mirror’s surface. This is what they read:
Class: Dominator ¹ (Quester)
Skills: ² (Back Climax) – ³ (Affection Surge – Rear) – ⁴ (Oral Aphrodisiac – Light)
(Wait… I’m not a Hero…? And what in the world are those Skills?)
The reaction was completely different from what the four others received. And those Skill names were incredibly suspicious.
Even the Princess and the attendants looked at each other with subtle expressions.
”This is…”
”Nothing is appearing…?”
”Yeah. There’s no change in the mirror, is there?”
Huh? No, wait, the characters were definitely floating there for me… But those words slowly faded away. And then, I couldn’t see anything either.
”So, the old man isn’t a Hero, I guess?” the Blonde Gyaru deadpanned.
”Hey, Mister. Can you tell us what happened before you were summoned? We were on a train, after all…”
I recounted the events before my summoning: finishing my late-night shift, falling off a bridge, plunging into the river, and sinking underwater until I woke up in this world.
”Ah, so that’s why the old man was all wet.”
”In that case, Princess. What does this mean?” The Handsome-kun redirected his gaze to the Princess. I also turned to her, but she pointedly refused to meet my eyes.
”I do not know… but I believe the summoning circle may not have functioned correctly. It is likely this gentleman was simply caught up in your summoning in some way.”
At that, The Handsome-kun ran a hand through his hair and stepped forward. It was an incredibly cinematic gesture.
”Princess, you said that when we, the Heroes, defeat an enemy, the summoning circle is charged with magic power, right? What happens if he fights and defeats an enemy?”
”…While I cannot say for certain, I believe that even if he were to defeat the Demon Lord, the magic array would not be charged with power.”
Ah, I see. So, only the Heroes could charge the magic array with power. Or perhaps… that was just the official narrative the Princess wanted to establish.
”Well, the old man isn’t a Hero, after all. So, there’s no need to force him to be involved in this country’s fight against the Demon Lord.”
”Taha. I wish I was the one who just got caught up in it,” the Blonde Gyaru sighed.
”Don’t say that, Sari. Anyway, we haven’t decided yet, but if we do fight and manage to charge up the summoning circle, don’t worry. We’ll take you back to Japan with us,” The Handsome-kun promised, showing consideration even at a time like this. Does facial handsomeness truly correlate with inner handsomeness? If so, what does that say about me, whose face is just… average?
”…Wait a moment. There is something I wish to try.”
”Hmm?”
With that, the Princess closed her eyes and began chanting some kind of spell.
”What—!?”
Red runes suddenly appeared on the back of the four Heroes’ right hands. However, nothing appeared on my right hand. The Princess looked at my empty hand and murmured, “I see.”
”That is the Hero’s Mark from the other world. The fact that this mark did not appear on his hand has proven, once and for all, that this gentleman is not a Hero.”
What was that? The Princess’s words and actions just now. Something was deeply bothering me… a strong sense of dishonesty.
I tried to delve deeper into the nature of this weird feeling, but she continued speaking before I could.
”I would like to speak with the Heroes in a separate room about your future actions. As for this gentleman, we will arrange for his immediate needs and a safe place to stay for the time being.”
And so, I was separated from the four others and led to a different room. After a considerable amount of time passed there, I was finally taken outside of the building.
—
Summary:
The newly summoned Heroes faced the desperate plea of a foreign Princess to defeat the feared Demon Lord and secure their return home. The true mechanism for going back—charging a magic array—forced an immediate conflict, which the charismatic Holy Sword Hero readily accepted. But when the ordinary Protagonist stepped up to the Magic Mirror, his shocking, suspicious Class and Explicit Skills were immediately dismissed by the Princess and then erased, proving his unheroic status. This scene sets the stage for the Protagonist’s marginalized but uniquely powerful journey in this Isekai Fantasy world, leaving him alone and on the outside of the main Hero’s adventure.
—
Character Insight:
The Protagonist’s deep-seated cynicism and self-deprecating nature immediately clash with the grand, performative nature of the Hero Summoning ritual. His inner monologue highlights his feeling of being an average Japanese man against the backdrop of glamorous, archetypal Heroes. His unacknowledged, hidden Class and Skill-set, dealing with domination and erotic effects, suggests he has been granted a power that is both taboo and incredibly potent, setting him up as a dark counterpoint to the Holy Sword Hero’s noble path.
—
Behind the Scene:
After the emotional pitch and the official declaration of the four main Heroes, the Protagonist, who was an accidental casualty of the summoning, was quickly and discreetly removed from the official narrative. His unexpected and powerful, albeit sexually-charged, Class and Skills were either invisible to the Princess or she chose to suppress them, deeming him useless to the kingdom’s immediate war efforts. He was then placed in a holding pattern—a ‘safe’ place—to ensure he wouldn’t interfere with the true Heroes’ mission, an action which later leads to his complete separation from the castle.
—
T/L:
1 ‘Dominator’ or ‘Master’ is the direct translation of the Japanese term. The author includes the reading ‘Quester’ in parentheses, possibly as a deceptive or alternative interpretation. ↩
2 The literal translation of this skill is ‘Back Climax’ or ‘Rear Orgasm.’ ↩
3 The literal translation of this skill is ‘Affection Surge (Rear).’ ↩
4 The literal translation of this skill is ‘Oral Aphrodisiac (Light).’ ↩
Notes:
• Sari – An energetic gyaru girl with wavy dyed blonde hair, expressive eyes, and noticeable trendy makeup. She wears short, stylish, slightly revealing modern clothes that stand out sharply in a formal or fantasy setting. Her class is revealed to be ‘Healing Hero,’ which she finds boring. Looks like Yukana Yame from certain series.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply